AN ACADEMIC NETWORK FOR LEGAL STUDIES ON ASYLUM
AND IMMIGRATION IN EUROPE

The academic
network for legal studies on immigration and asylum in Europe, was created
in 1998 with the financial support of the European Commission's Odysseus programme, on the initiative of Philippe DE BRUYCKER, lecturer and researcher at the Centre for
Public Law and the Institute for European Studies at the Université
Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium. It brings together experts from each Member State of
the European Union: Jean-Yves CARLIER and Sylvie SAROLEA (Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium), Kay HAILBRONNER (University of Konstanz, Germany), Cristina GORT┴ZAR and Emiliano GARCIA COSO (University Pontificia Comillas of Madrid, Spain), Elspeth GUILD (Radbous University of Nijmegen) and Ryszard CHOLEWINSKI (IOM Geneva) for United Kingdom, Franšois JULIEN-LAFERRIERE (University of Paris-Sud) and Henri LABAYLE (University of Bayonne) for France, Olivier LANG and Franšois MOYSE (Lawyers, Luxembourg), Bruno NASCIMBENE (University of Milan, Italy), John HANDOLL (Lawyer, Ireland), Írjan EDSTRÍM (University of Umea) and Gregor NOLL (University of Lund) for Sweden, Rudolf FEIK and Ulrike BRANDL (University of Salzburg) for Austria, Jens VEDSTED-HANSEN (University of Aarhus, Denmark), Achilles SKORDAS (University of Bristol) for Greece, Thomas SPIJKERBOER (University of Amsterdam) and Kees GROENENDIJK (Radboud University of Nijmegen) for the Netherlands, Constanša DIAS URBANO DE SOUSA (University Autonoma de Lisbon) and Nuno PIăARRA (Universidade Nova de Lisboa) for Portugal, Martin SCHEININ and Eeva NYKANEN (University of Turku) for Finland, Boldizsar NAGY (University E÷tv÷s Lorand, Budapest, Hungary), Barbara MIKOLAJCZYK (University of Silesia) for Poland, Kristine KRUMA (University of Latvia) for Latvia, Martin SKAMLA for Slovakia and Lyra JAKULEVICIENE (University Mykolas R÷meris) for Lithuania. Vigdis VEVSTAD who is an independent consultant joined the Network as a representative of Norway because of its participation to the Schengen cooperation). We welcomed as well representatives of Switzerland after their adhesion in the Schengen cooperation: Vincent CHETAIL (Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva) and Francesco MAIANI (Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration (IDHEAP, Lausanne).

The network
aims to analyse the legislation of EU Member States and legislation of
the EU in the areas of migration and asylum. The objective is to
furnish universities, policy-makers, practitioners and NGOs with a deeper
insight into these issues, from a European perspective. The results of our
analysis will be presented to the European Institutions, in order to help them in prepare a legislation based on the new provisions of the Treaty
of Amsterdam. The working languages are English and French.

This Network
will carry out comparative legal studies on different themes. The first
study analysed regularisation procedures of clandestine immigrants.
A study of the temporary humanitarian status will follow.
The adopted methodology involves, in the initial phase, Members
of the Network to examine the existing norms in practice
in their countries. This will be followed up by an in-depth comparative analysis
of the different legal national systems in the EU. The results of this
research has been published.

A conference was organised in December 2000 on the material law concerning
immigration and asylum in the European Union. As a result of a collaboration
between professors and researchers from the different Members universities
of this Network, magistrates, and officials of national ministries
and the EU institutions. This conference presented an analysis of the
progress which has been made on the legislation concerning immigration and asylum,
within the framework arisen in the area of the third pillar, since the ratification of the Maastricht
treaty as well as an analysis of the prospects offered by the Amsterdam Treaty
in this area.

The Odysseus
Network provides the public with a web-site. This will allow
the Network to promote its work and its members. The reader
is invited to visit the site and to get in touch with us for further information.
Interested parties are especially invited to complete the pages entitled
"European Research Forum on Immigration and Asylum Law ".